Some great news for all you readers out there – I have clinched the summer top salesman title! With sales numbers 13, 15, and 16, I have beaten Jordan for the best salesman of the summer. These sales were with the Maisonet Insurance Agency, ProSwing Athletic Training Center, and Dimensional Fidelity (more to come below). But I thought that was just some exciting, super important news for everyone to know. And this week we should be picking out my trophy from Crown Trophy in New Rochelle!
Let’s go back to Friday where there were two exciting publications about Star Toilet Paper. First, Jordan was interviewed and we were featured in the Ann Arbor Journal. There was a fantastic article that can be found here about how we are going to be coming to Ann Arbor, how Jordan graduated from University of Michigan, and how our first move-in was coming so soon. It could not have been more perfect timing!
Less than an hour later, another article was published about us on AnnArbor.com, another local newspaper! They have a large online following, both on Facebook and that subscribe online. This article can be found here that is a branch-off of the other article. However, this one seemed to gain a bit more exposure, as there were many reactions both on Facebook and on the article online. Within just a few hours, the article had received 9 likes, 14 comments on Facebook, and another 27 comments on the article itself. Right now, there are a whopping 37 comments.
A valuable lesson that Jordan and I have learned is that our product is what we like to call “polarizing.” We say this because we know that not everyone is going to like it or believe in it. However, we know that people who don’t like it, hate it. But we want to take advantage of this fact. When there is a small number of people who think the idea is just mediocre, the people who love it will rave about it and tell their friends, while the people who hate it will also tell their friends about some terrible toilet paper they found! So either way, we find ourselves and the companies who advertise with us gaining exposure. In our mind, even bad publicity is publicity nonetheless. And just because one person thinks the idea is awful, the ten people they go on a rant about it to could love it. We saw this firsthand on the comments on Facebook and on the article, with some saying, “DISGUSTING!” or, “crappy idea” and others saying, “very smart idea!” and, “I am hooked on Shark Tank…GOOD LUCK! Kind of jealous I didn’t come up with that idea.” Either way, look at the major reaction we got. And this was before we even installed any of it! Check out the article for some more details.
Over the weekend we updated our website to include a sharing feature when you redeem coupons, so now you can share any coupons you redeem with friends via Facebook, Twitter, and email. We also published our mobile website, making it super easy to navigate when you are on your phones. Check it out and just go to www.startoiletpaper.com on your mobile phones! Our lovely new intern David Kornberg (who actually won a free roll of toilet paper and can be seen on our TrendHunter page here) is a photographer extraordinaire and took some new pictures for us. What do you think?
This one is my personal favorite. Which is your favorite? Do you have any recommendations of some photos we should take?
Monday was another day of prep for me, making plenty of meetings to keep myself busy for the rest of the week. Jordan delivered our first set of rolls for the August 1 move-ins to Dance Theatre Studio. Check them out, all ready to be used!
Our rolls for Dance Theatre Studio
Tuesday was a great day for me as we were able to sign another multinational brand – Allstate. Felix Maisonet over at the Maisonet Agency has the best prices and best plans in the area. Check them out on Facebook for the latest updates and some awesome news about the amazing referral program he offers!
The next day could have been perhaps the most important day of the week for a number of reasons. In the morning, I met with Matt Maher at ProSwing Athletic Training Facility in Port Chester. This facility compares to no other sporting facility in the area. They have a full-size Little League field, double digit batting cages, a two-floor workout area, plus more room to do physical training. All of their trainers are super skilled, most of them playing college ball and some of them even making it to the professionals. This was a significant signing for me for two reasons: first, they are the perfect type of advertiser for the PCRB Library, looking to target families, especially kids, for their great lessons as well as camps. Second, Matt’s signing gave me 15 advertising slots filled for the summer, and with 28 slots needing to be filled at the library, helped me clinch the top salesman award! You definitely need to check them out on Facebook and for some awesome videos (one even with Mariano Rivera!) check out their YouTube channel.
Jordan had an exciting day too, delivering rolls to UTowers for when students start moving in for the fall semester at UMich. Check it out!
Our supply for UTowers
Thursday morning I worked another thrilling day with Dr. Jablon and even got to see what vocal cords look like (I would tell you the name of the machine he used, if I knew it…)! After I got home, I had scheduled a call with Eric Haddad of Dimensional Fidelity. We had found each other through Elance when he handmade Jordan’s graduation present. Check it out!
Jordan and I have been talking about getting custom, Star Toilet Paper toilet paper dispensers and I thought who else would I ask other than Eric! After some more conversation, he made a design for us and I thought, “hey, why don’t we trade advertising for the dispenser?” I figured he had already done so much for us, knew about the idea, and it would be a great way for him to get some exposure for his company, which is only a few months old. And yesterday we talked and within 5 minutes, he was sold! You have to like him on Facebook so you can follow not only the dispenser along the way, but also the other amazing projects he is going to make!
Jordan also made his delivery to Belmark Lanes and let’s hope all goes well. Jordan will be back in Ann Arbor in mid-September to survey the advertisers and see what we can do better in the future!
In case you were wondering 7 cases of toilet paper fit in the car, so had to get creative with the 8th!
Overall, this has been a fantastic week. We have some VERY VERY exciting news next week that you will not want to miss. Check back next week for something you will NOT want to miss. And remember, Don’t Rush, Look Before You Flush!
Congrats on your Salesman Award!! Wow, it really was a productive week. You will use these experiences for the rest of your life.
MORE WOW! YOU ARE ON THE TOP OF A ROLL THAT WILL CONTINUE FOR YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.